Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Petrol pump owners and tank-lorry workers enforced an indefinite strike Sunday morning to press home their nine-point demands, including a hike in commission on sales of fuel.
Around 9,000 petrol pumps remain closed and tank-lorries are staying off the streets across the country following the strike that began at 6:00 am.
People, who were not aware of the strike, are facing trouble and rushing one station to another in search of fuel with a hope of getting some for the day at least.
The filling stations are providing only gas for vehicles but were not selling diesel, octane or petrol, according to reports.
Bangladesh Petrol Pump and Tank Lorry Owners-Workers Unity Council, a combined platform of pump and tank lorry owners and workers, announced the action program from a press conference at a city hotel on January 13.
Their nine-point demand includes providing 3.4 per cent commission on the sale of diesel and 4.0 per cent on the sale of petrol and octane, and raising the fare of tank lorry as a result of fuel price hike.
On the day, Nazmul Haq, convener of Bangladesh Petrol Pump Owners and Tank-Lorry Owners-Workers Unity Council, at a press briefing threatened to observe the countrywide strike if their demands were not met by January 19 (Saturday).
Earlier on Saturday, the council leaders, at a press briefing also said during the strike there will be no fuel transportation across the country and that they will also refrain from supplying fuel to the aircrafts.
BBN/SSR/AD-20Jan13-1:17 pm (BST)
